That said, we owe you one. So here goes....
Regretfully, reading through my posts I am embarrassed to admit there is more content on taco cravings than the local goings on here in Perth. The text is woefully light on any kind of culture- shame, shame on me. While we have not yet gone into the outback or met the native peoples of Australia trust we have experienced plenty of noteworthy differences right here in our own backyard.
Drum roll please....
Dining out:
- There is no tipping in Australia- none. This sounds too good to be true, until you've waited 20 minutes for your drink order to be taken and another 20 for your beverages to arrive- why hustle around if your good service is not rewarded?
- Condiments will cost you. Tamato Sauce, Mayo or any additional meal accoutrement will set you back at least $1.50
- No free refills.
- Artificial sweeteners are almost non-existent. Of course so is iced tea, so really, what's the point.
- Dogs are allowed almost everywhere. This is music to my best friend, Petunia's, ears. Although she does not receive the same welcome she did at the club, she is a frequent patron at several of the local establishments.
- NEWS FLASH...If you order lemonade you will get a Sprite. To actually receive Lemonade you have to order Lemon Squash.
- Coffee requires a lexicon. Regular black coffee is a called a long black- its a shot of espresso with 2/3 cup hot water. A flat white is basically a latte but with more coffee to milk and without the chocolate dust of a cappuccino.
- Beet root is in everything from burgers to pizza- beware.
All things domestic
- Toilets in Oz have flushing options, less water for #1 - more water for #2. Both buttons at the same time if you are Davis.
- Scents for household cleaners are VERY different. The Windex smells like the spray you use at Ms. Dixie's house when you affect your toilette, the dish washing power is Apple Lime and EVERYTHING else is eucalyptus.
- Electricity is very expensive, dryers are a luxury- so laundry is dried the good old fashioned way- on a line in the sun. Twice a day I get my Laura Inglalls Wilder on and hang laundry. Ahh, the glamorous expat life.
- Each individual socket in the house has a switch to electrify it, no energy is wasted trickling through the plug.
- The mail man comes on a Vespa down the sidewalk. I've almost killed him twice backing out of the drive. We are on a first name basis.
- Most of the roofs are tile, they are not cemented or secured, the tiles just fit together like a puzzle and the aggregate weight holds them in place.
- Roaches are at least an inch longer here than in Texas. The roaches are an inch smaller than the spiders. I miss Bengal Spray.
Social
- Aussie greetings do not usually include G'day- people ask, "How ya going?"
- Anytime you use the word great in the US, in Australia you can replace it with gorgeous. Try it...everything seems better!
- Prostitution is legal. Not whore houses, just whoring- apparently there is a difference. Interesting point, unlike the US it is not advertised- NO WHERE will you see an advert for workin' girls. You have to be smart and desperate to procure a hooker in Oz.
- No shoes, no problem. People are barefoot everywhere- the grocery store, restaurants, doctors offices, trains- really you don't need shoes, and its a good thing, they are expensive.
- The "flock of seagulls" hair cut is an adolescent boy staple
- Trucker hats are in vogue ages 5-85, so are speedos :(
- There is a shark attack app
- Radio is free and uncut- any and all lyrics are played. No subject is off topic and all material is broadcast...our morning drives are a delicate mix of sex education and creative expletive usage.
- Public schools have six weeks of sailing included into the curriculum.
- A pound of grapes will cost you $8.00
So, we are "going" well. We feel local. We've made real friends. We love it here.
Always, always, we miss our home by the bay, colors at the club, rum gums, miller lite, coffee talk. I miss the art on my walls, the kids miss their freedom to roam, Kirk misses fishing on the pier and Petunia misses Otis. But, interestingly, it is these "want and misses" that give us confidence and strength here in Perth. We know it will all be there when we return.
Even college football, which amazingly we get here free of charge, and HBO...Australia is like a fancy Hampton Inn, sans the complimentary breakfast. And the humidity.
Even college football, which amazingly we get here free of charge, and HBO...Australia is like a fancy Hampton Inn, sans the complimentary breakfast. And the humidity.
But just in case, we are keeping our return tickets open. A good defense is the best offense.
Tejas,
Evangeline
